Pelargonium plant named ‘Duetemezle’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duetemezle’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large red purple and dark red-colored semi-double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUETEMEZLE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duetemezle’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-0606-016, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-08-005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Zonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duetemezle’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duetemezle’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large red purple and dark red-colored semi-double flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in branching habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely branching than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the female parent selection differ slightly in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have more reddish-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in leaf color as plants of the male parent selection have lighter green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of the Pelargonium zonale ‘Hot Spot Purple’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Hot Spot Purple’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were shorter and broader         than plants of ‘Hot Spot Purple’.     -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had smaller leaves than         plants of ‘Hot Spot Purple’.     -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger flower umbels         than plants of ‘Hot Spot Purple’.     -   4. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had shorter and thicker         peduncles than plants of ‘Hot Spot Purple’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Zonal Geranium plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duetemezle’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Pelargonium production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duetemezle’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-0606-016, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium             zonale identified as code number F-08-005, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit; uniformly             rounded; densely foliated; vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching habit with about             five basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 19.5 cm.         -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 15 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 34 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 11.1 cm. Diameter: About             6.9 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.6 cm; depth of leaf sinuses, less than 1 cm.         -   Shape.—Roughly reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 144A. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,             close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Discernible zonation             pattern not observed.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 6.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.6 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double type flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on moderately strong             peduncles; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit, about 22 to 24             flowers per umbel and potentially about five flower umbels             developing per plant.         -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in             outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is             continuous from spring throughout the summer until the             autumn; plants begin to flower about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 7.2 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 10.3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 3.8 cm by 4.3 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 5.7 mm. Diameter: About 4.3 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 66B and 45B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 74C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 66A and 45B; colors becoming closer to 67A             and 45A with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 74B; color becoming closer to 74A with development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three in a single             whorl. Length: About 3.7 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 66C and 45C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 74D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 66B and 45C. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 74C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 3.2 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 183A and 144A.         -   Peduncles (umbel stems).—Length: About 10.1 cm. Diameter:             About 4.8 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Pedicels (individual flower stems).—Length: About 2.3 cm.             Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 64A and 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             Five to six. Filament length: About 4.8 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155A and 64B. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 26A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 63A. Style length:             About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 63B. Ovary color: Close to             191B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal     Geranium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been     observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duetemezle’ as illustrated and described. 